From clutter to collection: How to style your decor
A quiet design vignette, with a Mid Century lamp by Laurel Lamp Company styled with antique prints and Czech crystal vessels. Design: Time & Place Interiors
There will always be a debate between design philosophies of minimalism and the accumulation of personal affects. The Marie Kondo disciples tell us to purge everything. Maximalists encourage showcasing our beloved objects. There’s no right or wrong answer.
Our small possessions can make a strong visual statement in a room. They can also add up to debilitating overwhelm. Certainly, regular decluttering is healthy practice. But, if you’re like me and you express yourself through your decor, there’s no shame if you can’t restrain yourself in service of a minimalist look. The best way to keep clutter in check is to group individual pieces, creating a tableau of objects that relate to one another through a theme. Then leave a space for breathing room before assembling the next grouping.
So, gather all your decorative wares and even your utilitarian household items. Then start arranging the pieces, tweaking their placement into intentional vignettes, using these styling tips for considered design of your home.
And for more homewares organization ideas, see my post, Why your storage should double as decor.
Formula of Threes: art + lamp + objet
A great styling trick is to create a cluster out of your belongings: a vignette in which objects are in dialogue with one another. I like to use a formula of threes: 1) art or a mirror hung on or leaned up against a wall; 2) a table lamp; and 3) a decorative or functional object or two (like a vase, a stack of books, or a sculpture). Scale matters here: the sizes of each piece should be counter-balanced, and the art should be placed low enough to interact with the tabletop decor.
To enliven the arrangement, add some botany into the mix: a leafy plant, fresh flowers, or dried stems.
Modern artwork and lamp give a fresh touch to a distressed antique cabinet. Design: Melissa Tingley / Photo: Tim Hirschmann
Pale pinks are repeated in a perfectly styled vignette. Design & photo: Gabi Hutchison
Group objects by shape, color, or material
Things tend to look good in pairs or groups. Experiment with ensembles formed with both decorative and functional objects, even if they’re unrelated to each other: vases, pitchers, jars, seashells. Put them into clusters that share a color or tone, a shape, or a material. Play around to see what works best. This is a delicate art.
A collection of 1920s green batter bowls looks perfect with a modern pleated lamp shade. Design: Kostas Anagnopoulos / Photo: Philip Ficks
A modern table lamp mirrors the shape of a Portuguese vase. Design: Time & Place Interiors
Display collections en masse
They say “less is more,” but MORE can be beautiful too! Objects that are mundane on their own become striking ensembles when displayed in multiples. These can be everyday household items or plain pieces that are often overlooked at antique malls. Objects like old medicine bottles, brass candlesticks, and antique wooden shoe molds make beautiful displays when grouped en masse.
To make the vignette intentional, display the multiples in a confined space like in a shelf niche or on a tray. A natural boundary is easier on the eye than tchotchkes strewn around the room.
Cloches and a glass jug picked up at thrift stores add up to an intriguing tabletop vignette. Design: Matthew Axe / Photo: Eric Piasecki
Old Italian glass bottles and olive jars are elevated to an art form when displayed beautifully along a wall. Design & Photo: Maria Le Mesurier
Need a hand with styling your space?
Time & Place Interiors specializes in creating meaningful designs that convey your personality while allowing your home to function optimally for your needs. Use the link below to schedule a free information call to discuss ways we can bring expert styling to your space.
